Folding bath stand and dressing table



July 6, 1937.

C. T. DE PUY ET AL FOLDING BATH STAND AND DRESSING TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 25, 1936 INVENTOR.

Charles T. DePuy William C. Baxter ATTORNEY.

y 1937- c. T. DE PUY ET AL 2,085,901

FOLDING BATH STAND AND DRESSING TABLE 7 Filed July 25, 1936 I 2 Sheets-shat 2 HEAL. v

' INVENTORS Charles T. DePuy ZBY Baxter Patented July 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ABLE Charles T. De Puy and William C. Baxter, Rochester, N. Y., assignors to Trimble Nurseryland- Furniture, Inc., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 25, 1936, Serial No. 92,550

11 Claims. (Cl. 4177) This invention relates to a folding bath stand and dressing tablefor infant's use, and has for its object to provide a practical and economical construction in which the dressing table is pivotally connected to the folding stand so that it may assume a horizontal position over the tub or a vertical position at the rear of and above the stand.

A more particular object of the invention is to afford a structure in which the dressing table can be readily and conveniently moved from its horizontal to its vertical position, with foot operated means for actuating it downwardly, and in which instrumentalities are provided for holding the table in vertical position so as to prevent its accident .=lly falling and striking a child while' in the tub.

A further purpose of the invention is to afford an arrangement whereby the dressing table or the frame thereof rests upon the upper ends of the legs of the folding stand when in horizontal position and is supported thereby, the pivotal connections with the table being such that it swings around the upper ends of the rear legs of the stand while moving to vertical position, while the rear part of the table occupies a position adjacent to and behind the upper ends of the rear legs when in vertical position.

Still another purpose of the invention is to afford a structure in which the dressing table is pivotally connected to the rear legs of the folding stand in such fashion that when the stand is collapsed, the dressing table may be swung downwardly to a position parallel with and forwardly of the front legs of the stand, thus acting to hold the stand compactly in collapsed or folded relation for transporting or shipping.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts that will appear clearly from the following de cription when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the novel features being pointed out in the claims following the specification.

. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a folding bath stand and dressing table constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, and illustrating the dressing table in its vertical position;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation showing the dressing table in horizontal position above the tub;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the parts as illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the parts as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the parts in the position shown in Fig. 4;

Fig, 6 is an end elevation showing the stand folded and the dressing table about to be folded downwardly.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation showing the final folded position of the dressing table when the stand is collapsed;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged end elevation illustrative of the pivotal connection between the dressing table and folding stand, and the parts immediately related thereto, with the dressing table in vertical position, and

Fig. 9 is a similarview with the dressing table in horizontal position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts'throughout the several views, I and 2 designate the front and rear legs respectively of a folding bath stand, which is preferably of the cross-legged type, said legs I and 2 being pivoted together at 3 and connected at the top by longitudinally extending rails 4, as usual in this type of stand.

The folding stand is adapted to support a bath of the folding stand and suitably attached thereto so that when the stand is folded, the tub is collapsed between the legs of the stand, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 The upper ends of the front and rear legs of the stand are rounded at their front and rear edges respectively, as designated at 6 and l for a purpose that will appear presently.

The dressing table comprises a frame consisting of end rails 8 and connecting rails 9 over which a fabric covering is stretched, in the usual manner in this type of construction. and the arrangement and relationshipof the parts is such that when the dressing table is lowered, the end rails 8 rest upon the rear legs 2, said rails 8 and the rear legs 2 being of approximately the same width and in alinernent with each other, and in order to support the dressing table at the front upon the upper ends of the front legs I, which are disposed between the legs 2 and inwardly thereof, the'dressing table is provided with coradapted to overlie and rest upon the upper ends of the front legs I.

By thus supporting the dressing table upon the upper ends of the legs, it is possible to use a table considerably longer than in previous similar types of construction, and this is of definite advantage in performing the necessary drying and dressing operations on the infant after the bath.

The dressing table is pivotally supported upon the rear legs of the stand, and to this end there are employed hinge plates H which are rigidly connected to the end rails 8 of the table and pivotally connected to the rear legs 2 at l2 so that these hinge plates, with the table to which they are connected, can swing to either the vertical position illustrated in Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 8, or to the horizontal position shown, in Figs. 2, 3 and 9.

It will be observed that the hinge plates are secured to the rails 8 of the dressing table at a substantial distance forwardly of the rear ends of the rails or the rear edge of the dressing table,

with the result that when the dressing table is in horizontal position, it extends considerably beyond the legs rearwardly thereof, and when in vertical position, it extends substantially beneath the tops of the legs, as shown in Fig. 8, the vertical movement of the table being limited preferably by rubber bumpers l3 on the rails of the table engaging the rear edges of the legs 2, shown in Fig. 8.

When the dressing table is in horizontal position, its end rails 8 preferably rest upon and are supported by the upper ends of the rear legs 2, and the latter are curved, as shown at I, to conform to. the are through which the table moves as it swings from horizontal to vertical position. When the folding stand is collapsed, the dressing table can be swung downwardly in front of and parallel to the front legs I, as shown in Fig. 7, in which position it acts to hold the stand in folded relation, since it is connected to the rear legs and overlies the front legs, and this movement of the dressing table is facilitated by rounding the front edges of the front legs at 6 to conform to the are through which the table swings as it moves from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that illustrated in Fig. 7. It will be understood that before the table is swung downwardly, the towel rack I4, which is pivoted to the front legs, is swung upwardly against the tub fabric, or between the front legs, so as not to interfere with the folding of the dressing table. Likewise the screen I5, which is pivoted to the rear legs, may be lowered on to the table, as shown in Fig. 9, and folded with it, as shown in Fig. 7. The screen I5 occupies a vertical position at the rear of the dressing table when the latter is in horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2, as usual in dressing table constructions.

It is important to prevent accidental lowering or dropping of the dressing table when in its vertical position which it occupies While the baby is being bathed in the tub, and such accidental lowering is prevented by spring means, preferably consisting of a coil spring 16, that is connected at one end to the rear edge of the dressing table and at its opposite end to one of the legs or some portion of the folding stand. The action of this spring is such that when the dressing table is in its vertical position, as shoyvn in Fig. 5, with a substantial portion thereof extending beneath the upper ends of the legs, the spring will hold it positively against dropping, and. a, definite pulling movement is necessary to lower the table until it reaches a position very nearly horizontal, when its own weight is suificient to overcome the action of the spring i6 and hold it in such horizontal position. The table is elevated to vertical position by lifting its forward edge, and can also be lowered by pulling the forward edge of the table downwardly. In some instances, it may be desirable to provide foot means for lowering the table, and this may be accomplished by pivoting a treadle ll to the bottom part of one of the legs 2, and extending from the rear end of the treadle is a connecting rod l8 pivoted thereto and having its upper end pivotally connected at I9 to the rear of the dressing table. The connecting rod I8 has a bend in it at 20 to extend around the legs of the folding stand and permit collapsing of the dressing table when in the position shown in Fig. 7.

With the dressing table in vertical position, as

illustrated in Fig. 5, by depressing the treadle l7 and thus elevating the connecting rod 18, the rear part of the dressing table is actuated rearwardly and upwardly, thus lowering the table to its horizontal position. This action is retarded by the spring l6 sufficiently to prevent any undue jar or shock as the table is lowered on to the stand.

While the invention has been described with reference to certain structural details, it is not 1 confined to the particular arrangement herein shown, and this application is intended to cover such modifications or departures as come within the purposes of the improvement or the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. The combination with a folding tub-supporting stand and tub, of a dressing table pivotally supported at the rear of the tub-supporting stand by means connected to the table at points spaced substantially from its rear edge, the table being movable about its pivotal point from a horizontal position superposed over the tub to a position in which its rear part extends beneath the top of the tub-supporting stand and inclines slightly forwardly of a vertical plane and its forward part extends upwardly above the tub stand and inclines slightly rearwardly of a vertical plane.

2. The combination with a folding tub-supporting stand and tub, of a dressing table pivotally supported at the rear of the tub supporting stand by means connected to the table at points spaced substantially from its rear edge, the table being movable about its pivotal point from a horizontal position superposed over the tub to a position in which its rear-part extends beneath the top of the tub-supporting stand and inclines slightly forwardly of a vertical plane and its forward part extends upwardly above the tub-supporting stand and inclines slightly rearwardly of a vertical plane, and spring means connected to the rear edge of the table and acting to hold it in its upper position while the weight of the table acts to overcome the action of said spring when the table is in horizontal position.

3. The combination with a folding tub-supporting stand and tub, of a dressing table pivotally supported at the rear of the tub-supporting stand by means connected to the table at points spaced substantially from its rear edge, the table being movable about its pivotal point from a horizontal position superposed over the tub to a position in which its rear part extends beneath the top of the tub-supporting stand and inclines slightly forwardly of a vertical plane and its,"

Iii

forward part extends upwardly above the tubsupporting stand and inclines slightly rearwardly of a vertical plane, spring means connected to the rear edge of the table and acting to hold it in vertical position while the weight of the table acts to overcome the action of said spring when the table is in horizontal position, and a foot operated lever connected to the rear edge of the table and operable to push it upwardly to move the table from upper to horizontal position.

4. The combination with a cross-legged type folding tub-supporting stand and tub, said stand including front and rear legs, of a dressing table including end rails pivoted to said rear legs by means connected to-the table at points spaced substantially from its rear edge, said end rails of the table resting upon the upper ends of said rear legs of the supporting stand when in horizontal position and occupying a position adjacent to the back edges of the rear legs when in upper position with the rear part of the table extending beneath the top portions of said rear legs and inclined slightly forwardly of a vertical plane and the forward part of the table extending above the top portions of said rear legs and inclinedslightly rearwardly of a vertical plane.

5. The combination with a cross-legged type folding tub-supporting standand tub, said stand including front and rear legs, of a dressing table including end rails pivoted to said rear legs by means connected to the table at points spaced substantially from its rear edge, said end rails of the table resting upon the upper ends of said rear legs of the supporting stand when in horizontal position and occupying a position adjacent to the back edges of the rear legs when in upper position with the rear part of the table extending beneath the top portions of said rear legs and inclined slightly forwardly of a vertical plane and the forward part of the table extending above the top portions of said rear legs and inclined slightly roarwardly of a vertical plane, and spring means connected to the rear edge of the table and acting to hold it in upper position.

6. Ihe combination with a cross-legged type folding tub-supporting stand and tub, said stand including front and rear legs. of a dressing table including end rails pivoted to said rear legs by means connected to the table at points spaced substantially fromits rear edge, said end rails of the table resting upon the upper ends of said rear legs of the supporting stand when in horizontal position and occupying a position adjacent to the back edges of the rear legs when in upper position with the rear part of the table extending beneath the top portions of said rear legs and inclined slightly forwardly of a vertical plane and the forward part of the table extending above the top portions of said rear legs and inclined slightly rearwardly of a vertical plane, spring means connected to the rear edge of the table and acting to hold it in upper position, and a foot operated lever connected to the rear edge of the table and operable to move it from upper to horizontal position, said spring acting to retard the lowering movement of the table and the weight of the latter acting to overcome the action of said spring means when in horizontal position.

7. The combination with a cross-legged type folding tub-supporting stand and tub, said stand including front and rear legs. of a dressing table pivotally connected to the rear legs at.

points spaced substantially from the rear edge of the table, the table including end rails that rest upon the upper ends of said legs when in horizontal position and when in upper position have their rear portions extending beneath the upper ends of the rear legs and adjacent thereto inclined slightly forwardly of a vertical plane and' their forward portions extending upwardly above said rear legs and inclined slightly rearwardly of a vertical plane, said table being movable when the stand is folded to a position parallel to and in front of the front legs of the stand and acting to hold the stand folded.

8. The combination with a cross-legged type folding tub-supporting stand and tub, said stand including front and rear legs, of a dressing table pivotally connected to the rear legs and movable from a horizontal position over the tub to an upper position above said rear legs, the table being also movable when the stand is folded to a po- -sition parallel to and in front of the front legs of the stand and acting to hold the stand folded.

9. The combination with a cross-legged type folding tub-supporting stand and tub, said stand including front and rear legs, of a dressing table pivotally supported on said rear legs by means connected to the table at points substantially spaced from its rear edge whereby said rear edge of the table is located roarwardly of the legs when in horizontal position and is located beneath the upper ends of said legs when in upper position, the table resting upon the upper ends of the rear legs when in horizontal position and provided with means that abuts the rear edges of the rear legs when in upper position to limit such upper movement, and spring means connected to the rear edge of the table and acting to retain it in upper position,

10. The. combination with a cross-legged type folding bath stand and tub, said stand including front and rear legs, of a dressing table pivotally supported on said rear legs by means connected to the table at points substantially spaced from its rear edge whereby said rear edge of the table is located rearwardly of the legs when in horizontal position and is located beneath the upper ends of the rear legs when in upper position, the table resting upon the upper ends of the rear legs when in horizontal position and provided with means that abuts the rear edges of the rear legs when in upper position to limit such upper movement, spring means connected to the rear edge the table and acting to retain it in. upper position, and a foot operated lever connected to the rear edge of the table for pushing it upwardly to move the table from upper to horizontal position, the aforesaid spring means acting to retard the lowering movement of the tableand the weight of the table acting to overcome the action of the spring means when in horizontal position.

11. The combination with a cross-legged type folding bath stand and tub, said stand including front and rear legs, of a dressing table pivotally supported on said rear'legs by means connected to the table at points substantially spaced from its rear edge whereby saidurear edge of the table is located rearwardly of said legs when in horizontal position and is located beneath the upper ends of said legs when in upper position, the table resting upon the upper ends of the legs when in horizontal position and provided with means that abuts the rear edges of said legs when in upper position to limit such movement, spring means connected to the rear edge of the table and acting to retain it in upper position, and foot operated means connected to the rear edge of the table for moving it from vertical to horizontal position, the aforesaid spring means acting to retard the lowering movement of the table and the weight of the table llt'llllf, to overcome the action of the spring means when in horizontal position, the table being movable to a position in front of and parallel to the front legs of the stand when the latter is folded and acting to hold the stand in folded relation.

CHARLES T. DE PUY. WILLIAM C. BAXTER. 

